Here is the building code for Ontario, as it has to do with size. This was provided to us by Ontario’s amazing tiny house researcher, Lulu Chan, who in turn got it from the Chief Building Official from Orillia, Ontario.
The attached (below) is both an interesting and sort of hard to read document which shows that Ontario building code will allow for homes to be built that are 239 square feet, plus a bathroom.
Orillia is open for any of you who are interested in purchasing land and putting up a house of this size.
Now for the rest of the province!
What does about 250 feet of well designed space look like?
A gorgeous 250 square foot floor plan
Tiny House Ontario 
I am looking to go tiny in norfolk ontario has anyone made any head way on tiny homes. I would love to build a tiny home community near Simcoe ontario. I am friends with a developer we have talked briefly about this when he gets back in April, I am hoping I have a solution for him.
Hi Micheal… This is wonderful… BUT, I have a suggestion. While land is certainly MUCH more expensive, you should seriously consider building this in Kitchener! According to my contact in the city they are waiting, hoping, wanting to have a developer approach them to build a tiny house development. Plus… there are about a hundred people who have SERIOUS intention to have a tiny house in any proposed community in Kitchener, including me. Further, I would be willing to sell THO and her ten acres to invest in this.
I am not sure what you have in mind… Or if you have lived tiny before, so I will give you an outline of needs for a tiny house community. There MUST be a central building which acts as a business/Corporation where there is a laundromat, a large central meeting room, two offices (rentals for the community if they need workspace), and two “hotel” bedrooms that can be rented out by visiting family members for around the cost of a hotel room. It also clearly needs to have bathrooms. These rooms could also be rented out by the wider community when not in use. Further to this, the central “corporation” should have business Wifi, electricity and plumbing that all the tiny houses can be fed from. Attached to this business should be a tiny house with an office that separates them. This would be free lodging for full time grounds keeper/administrator person/couple. This person/couple services, the wifi, water and sewer, as well as electricity, is paid by the lot owners association be paid by a montly membership fee of about $100 (depending on the number of people in your home, lot size and so on) and the guest room rental and laundry. The lots should come in two formats, homes built on a foundation and with hook ups for tiny houses on wheels. These lots should be OWNED by the tiny house dwellers none the less there must be a standard for upkeep, for these properties within the corporation. Lots should be variable in size. For example I wish to have a 400 square foot house and ALSO on the adjacent lot where I will have an additonal 400 square feet to paint in, with 4 additional parking spots for students. Plus, I have dogs, and enjoy gardening, so I would need to have at least 2000 square feet of yard to make me happy. Others will have needs for land that are as small as 400 square feet, so lot size varies from 400-1000 square feet. These lots should be priced by the square footage.
FYI: There are currently three lots in Kitchener that would have enough space to put the central structure as well as at least 25 tiny houses. These are about 400000K each and one is zoned already for multi residential. Without really knowing the cost I estimate roughly 200,000 for development and hopefully the developer will build to suit… AND the developer will put in a clause with the city that these houses MAY NOT have additions of any more than $100 square feet and must be in keeping with the style of the community.
If my guesstimate is correct, This means that the investment is about 600,000 or about $24K a lot. Since basic tiny houses cost about 20K to build, people would be looking at under $50K – $75 for a home on a lot they own. The homes would be taxed by the community individually and the dwellers would have the maintainence fee of $100 a month to run the community. Affordable for people, I think.
Micheal, if this excites you please contact me directly on my facebook page.
Sincerely,
Laura Moreland
I have recently moved to Orillia and have been tiny house dreaming for some time. I am encouraged by what I am reading about the codes here. I would prefer no wheels and I may have some undeveloped land I can lease. So……my understanding is that I could build a minimum 239 Sq. foot house here?
Any thoughts/comments are much appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Lynne! I pass this information on as I get it from my readers. This was news that I got and reported on. I advise you to contact the community that you are considering and find out exactly what the restrictions are. Do not spend any money until you are 100% satisfied that you can find a place which both makes you happy and that the community permits. Each person must do their own diligence because I cannot possibly research and know every community’s restrictions.
I hope this makes sense.
Laura AKA Tiny House Ontario
Examine the bylaw carefully, there will be standard requirements for services and septic; leased land may not be in compliance. I would suggest you make an appointment with the building inspector and present your concept.
If you get to do this please let us know if it was successful. If you were able to lease land that is fantastic and if you ever want to let others live there please let me know. Thanks
I am very interested in living Tiny. I am in Barrie and you in Orillia. Need to the legalities of it all. Is there a good tiny house builder locally??
Wow – this is really encouraging. I wonder if this means a tiny house on wheels built to Ontario building codes could potentially be put on a foundation.
I am so happy to read that in Orillia,On change the code for smaller house, hope more city do the same.
Thanks Laura
Me too! ❤ L